Legendary Comedian Jerry Lewis Dies at 91
Today the world of comedy lost one of its brightest stars. Jerry Lewis was no stranger to controversy during his decades-long career, but his impact on both Hollywood and comedy in general cannot be denied.
From his early days as Dean Martin’s partner-in-crime to his career-capping turn in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy — and countless box office successes in-between — the films and comedy specials of Jerry Lewis will be a source of discussion and admiration for countless years to come.
His death was confirmed by Las Vegas Review Journal writer John Katsilometes, who shared news of his passing on Twitter. According to Katsilometes, Lewis died of natural causes at home and surrounded by family:
Very sad to report entertainment legend #JerryLewis has died today at 9:15 a.m. at his home in Las Vegas. He was 91.
— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 20, 2017
Statement: “Legendary entertainer #Jerry Lewis passed away peacefully today of natural causes at 91 at his home w/ family by his side.” — John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) August 20, 2017
Lewis’ life and his impact on Hollywood is certainly too big to fit into a single post, but those looking to remember the actor — or perhaps dive into his works for the first time — would do well to use this A.V. Club article on his comedic career as a starting point. For many, of course, the crown jewel of Lewis’ filmography is the one movie none of us have ever seen: Lewis’ 1972 film The Day the Clown Died, a movie about a circus clown who accompanies children to their deaths in the holocaust, has long been considered one of the great misguided films in Hollywood history, and will finally be available to the public in 2024. For today, though, we simply remember the man, the movies, and the stories he left behind.
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